Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-18
a Plea for Maternity.

The Atlanta Sunny South prints the
following composition with these COM
ments: The following is a recent com
position by Maggie Hall Wilson (of six
teen years., Junior student Of Wesleyan
college, Fort Worth, Texas. Miss Mac
gle is 3 granddaughter of Otis Smith,
for long time noted divine and edu-
Gator in Georgia, and former president
of Mercer University.
The term New South is ofrecent origin,
and, in its aCCeptation, seems to wager
strange political farce. The value Of all
such is apart from the economy of his
tory, and, in reality, is but weird tradi-
tional fancy. II is but narrow and Grip
pied philosophy that would bride and
take away the true origin and pretense of
southern glory, and meek maiden and
maternity with the "science" of q deceit
ful heroism. The discovery at this day aud
time that the old Israel was but a forfeit,
is a sacrifice of principle and shame to
boosted intelligence. The tone, and
type, and taste of southern civilization,
as it is, and as developed, spring from its
own loyal lineage. No heiress TO crown,
or coronet, ever possessed more prec-
ious birthright, or, by faith, bore it more
resplendently than this southern foster
child of q noble heritage.
To be sure, the present cannot be
slienated from the past. The same inev-
liable results flow always from similar
causes, and such can never vary, whether
righteous or unrighteOus, revolutionary
or otherwise. There is no appeal from
the edict of war, and conquered peoples
greatest glory comes from a
Just and righteous recognition
of the powers that be. The
solution'of such definite problem was
not long delayed by the commonplace
aristocraCy of the south, much less her
martyrs. The meeting of two great mas
tiers at AppomattoX foretold peace, sdni-
versal, and the crape-myrtle upon the
sword of Robert E. Lee bespoke to the
world nation reunited by q reunion of
hearts, as well as of forces. Yet, it has
been reserved for later day philologists TO
invent and coin a substitute by which the
name of 8 valorous land shall forfeit and
lose her traditions and memories. The
genius of the modern politician, the willy
wiz of the untoward craftsman, the de-
testable spirit Of prevailing toadyism, can
never change, or pluck, one halo from q
southern disdem. There is no new south.
Let history be history. The south of the
present is but the common property of
generations whose American fame is
proverbial and eternal. The genius Of a
free and enlightened government found
impress first upon southern soil,
here it was that true Ameri-
can martyrdom tunnelled its way
through the breast plates of unrelenting
tyranny. What more? With the science
and operation of a government "of the
people, by the people and for the people''
esta blished, what more? The industries
Of national fraternity then shone forth
from mountain top and hillside, and the
sublimity of g tender civilization was IN
disturbed in the harmony Of its moral and
physical force. The triumph ofpesce was
peril ct. But what more? Out of the
wreck and mire of sad disaster, out Of the
shape of unfortunate and unhallOWed des |
tiny, of fortunes wrecked, and the men,
cries of bloody civil war, when the dead
have been buried, and the Grape is IF the
door; when the olive branch perfumes
sweetly-comes this new and positive T. V
elation, An orator has spoken of the
"New South" and the demagOgue-edi-I
torial, poetical, clerical, PEDAGOGICAL and
has fioated his words, upon
echo, to the breeze. Why not the south |
redeemed, recalled, revived, renewed, re-
if you please, or, more than all,
recovered?
If the term "New South" is synonym |
for what properly molds and tests the |
civilization aud progress of people in
the advanced arts and sciences, in prac- !
teal and political economy, then it is no
but rather 8 benedlctlon to
the influence and intelligence Of mt
tured, maternal civilization. If, on the |
other hand, the term involves the impL- |
cation that existing southern ldeslism
was only nodded of q shaft, broken and
battered in human conflict-inspired also |
of foreign genius and diplomacy, then no
more cruel SANDER could det1le the image |
of tru itself. To be sure, there will be
neither compact Nor regulation Of opin-
ion upon the subject of 6 common Ameri- !
can maternity during this day and genera
ton. The historian Of the future alone |
Will record such without prejudice, spec
ulstion or compromise. For one, l be-
lieve that he will recognize no new
south: vet he will record the genius and |